US6877513B2 - Intraoral apparatus for enhancing airway patency - Google Patents
Intraoral apparatus for enhancing airway patency Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US6877513B2 US6877513B2 US09/761,789 US76178901A US6877513B2 US 6877513 B2 US6877513 B2 US 6877513B2 US 76178901 A US76178901 A US 76178901A US 6877513 B2 US6877513 B2 US 6877513B2
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- United States
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- user
- tongue
- flexible sleeve
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- dentition
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- 230000029058 respiratory gaseous exchange Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000007789 gases Substances 0.000 claims description 9
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- 210000001584 Palate, Soft Anatomy 0.000 description 31
- 210000000515 Tooth Anatomy 0.000 description 24
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- 206010063968 Upper airway resistance syndrome Diseases 0.000 description 18
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- 230000000717 retained Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 3
- VOLSCWDWGMWXGO-UHFFFAOYSA-N cyclobuten-1-yl acetate Chemical compound 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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
- A61F5/56—Devices for preventing snoring
- A61F5/566—Intra-oral devices
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/04—Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/0488—Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes
- A61M16/049—Mouthpieces
- A61M16/0493—Mouthpieces with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
- A61F5/56—Devices for preventing snoring
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/04—Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/0488—Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes
- A61M16/049—Mouthpieces
- A61M16/0495—Mouthpieces with tongue depressors
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M16/1005—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours with O2 features or with parameter measurement
- A61M16/101—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours with O2 features or with parameter measurement using an oxygen concentrator
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S602/00—Surgery: splint, brace, or bandage
- Y10S602/902—Antisnoring or mouth closing devices
Abstract
Description
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from provisional U.S. patent application No. 60/117,489, filed Jan. 21, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an apparatus for enhancing the patency of a patient's upper airway, and, in particular, an apparatus for stabilizing anatomical features associated with the upper airway so as to minimize airway obstruction or restriction. The invention further pertains to an intraoral apparatus having selectively adjustable moving members for optimally positioning various anatomical features associated with the upper airway for optimal upper airway stability, and to a system using such intraoral apparatus, alone or in combination with positive airway pressure or ventilation, as a therapeutic treatment for upper airway instability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although upper airway stabilization can be used in a wide range of medical applications, the following description discusses the invention as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, hypopnea, and upper airway resistance syndrome. Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA, obstructive sleep hypopnea, and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) are among a variety of known disorders characterized by episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction during a state of diminished consciousness, such as sleep, anesthetization, or post anesthesia. OSA, hypopnea, and UARS cause intermittent interruption of ventilation during sleep with the consequence of potentially severe oxyhemoglobin desaturation. Typically, those afflicted with OSA, hypopnea, and UARS experience repeated, frequent arousal from sleep in response to the oxygen deprivation. The arousals result in sleep fragmentation and poor sleep continuity.
Consequences of OSA, hypopnea, and UARS may include debilitating daytime sleepiness and cognitive dysfunction, systemic hypertension, cardiac dysrythmias, pulmonary artery hypertension and congestive heart failure. Other consequences may include a predisposition to myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, right ventricular dysfunction with cor pulmonale, carbon dioxide retention during wakefulness as well as during sleep, and continuous, reduced arterial oxygen tension. Moreover, the cognitive impairment resulting from OSA, hypopnea, and UARS puts those afflicted at elevated risk of accidents.
The pathogenesis of the airway obstruction that characterizes OSA, hypopnea, and UARS can include both anatomic and functional abnormalities of the upper airway that result in increased air flow resistance. Such abnormalities may include narrowing of the upper airway due to suction forces created during inspiration, the effect of gravity pulling the tongue back to appose the pharyngeal wall, and insufficient muscle tone in the upper airway dilator muscles, among others. It is also believed that excessive soft tissue in the anterior and lateral neck, as commonly observed in obese persons, can apply sufficient pressure to internal structures to narrow the upper airway and restrict air flow.
Conventional treatment of OSA, hypopnea, and UARS has included surgical intervention, such as uvalopalotopharyngoplasty, gastric surgery for obesity, mandibular advancement procedures, maxillo-facial reconstruction, and tracheostomy. However, surgery potentially involves considerable risk of post-operative morbidity and mortality. In addition, the failure rate of surgery is disturbingly high. Pharmacological therapy has also been proposed to treat OSA, hypopnea, and UARS; however, results have been generally disappointing.
More recently, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure applied during sleep has been used to treat OSA, hypopnea, and UARS patients. Positive pressure is applied in the upper airway to splint or support the airway, thereby preventing its collapse and the resultant airway obstruction. Although positive airway pressure can nearly always stabilize the upper airway, in some cases the required pressure magnitude is unacceptable for other reasons. For example, positive airway pressure may adversely affect spontaneous patient respiration, or may not be well tolerated by the patient.
The prior art is also replete with disclosures of intraorally fitted appliances, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,981,437 and 4,932,867, that disclose a method and apparatus for constructing dentures, which are useful, for example, in treating breathing disorders. U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,405 discloses a device for measuring the location, attitude, or change of location of a patient's lower jaw. U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,181 relates to optical measurement of jaw movement. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,998,209 and 4,220,142 disclose conditioning systems for use in a program of behavior modification to eliminate snoring, while U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,618 relates to treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and bruxism. U.S. Pat. No. 3,297,021 discloses an intraoral strain gauge and telemetering of information from an intraoral location to an outside indicator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,533 purports to disclose a process for reducing the occurrence of apneic episodes for persons with no teeth. U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,737 purports to disclose apparatus and method for repositioning the mandible in an inferior or open, and anterior or protrusive position as compared to the normal closed position of the jaw. In general, lower jaw or mandible positioning devices are known, although not necessarily for OSA, hypopnea, and UARS treatment.
The following U.S. patents purport to relate to tongue positioning and/or retaining apparatus: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,154,184, 5,092,346, 5,046,512, 4,676,240, 4,169,473, 4,304,227 and 4,593,686. Other patents addressing the matter of tongue positioning include the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,649,540, 5,465,734, 5,373,859, 5,052,409, 4,715,368, 4,196,724, 3,884,226, 3,312,216 and 3,132,647, as well as European patent 0182387 and British patent 874,480. The following patents purport to relate to chin straps or similar apparatus intended to hold the jaw closed: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,312,217, 2,711,730 and 1,990,411.
Still other patents relate to apparatus for interaction with the soft palate in the user's oral cavity. These include U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,459 and 5,316,020, German patent no. DE 40 26 602 and European patent no. EP 0264516. Other patents of general interest include U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,534 and 2,705,006, German patent nos. 65194 and 2320501, and PCT publication no. WO 92/05752 and European patent application no. 0 487 469 A1.
While the above-identified conventional devices and techniques are purported to treat upper airway instability, such as OSA or snoring, they are successful, if at all, in only a limited pool of patients or under limited circumstances. Therefore, there remains a relatively large number of patients who's airway disorder is believed to be treatable using an intraoral appliance, yet conventional appliances are ineffective, overly burdensome, uncomfortable, or any combination thereof.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for enhancing upper airway stability that overcome the disadvantages associated with conventional intraoral appliances. More specifically, the invention contemplates a novel and improved apparatus for treatment of OSA, hypopnea, UARS and other conditions by retaining, in a preferred position, one or more anatomic features of the patient associated with the upper airway from the group including the tongue and the soft palate, alone or in combination with the application of a positive pressure, such as CPAP or bi-level pressure, in the patient's upper airway. The present invention further contemplates a novel and improved apparatus for treatment of OSA and other conditions by retaining, in a preferred position, the mandible or lower jaw in combination with the application of a positive pressure, such as CPAP, in the patient's upper airway. The combination of a positive pressure airway splint and mechanical positioning of selected intraoral features produces enhanced upper airway patency, thus providing an effective treatment for OSA, hypopnea, and UARS, as well as other conditions associated with upper airway instability. In addition, the patient interface appliance of the present invention provides an interface for providing positive pressure support for a patient needing positive pressure assistance to breathing, and who do not have upper airway instability.
The proposed mechanical positioning or retention of the tongue or soft palate may be sufficient, without a positive pressure support therapy, to provide the requisite upper airway stability for prevention of airway obstruction or restriction. This can be of considerable benefit to those patients who do not tolerate CPAP therapy, for example. However, even if mechanical positioning of the tongue or soft palate is by itself insufficient to eliminate the airway obstruction or restriction, the same in combination with application of pressure support therapy, such as CPAP or bi-level pressure support, at a lower pressure than would otherwise be required, will eliminate the obstructive/restrictive episodes in many patients. Hence, the potential beneficiaries of the present invention include not only patients who do not tolerate CPAP therapy at all, but also those who tolerate CPAP therapy up to a critical positive pressure, but are unable to tolerate higher CPAP pressures. The anatomic feature positioning include tongue positioning, soft palate tissue distension, alone or in combination with lower jaw positioning and stabilization. It should be noted that the benefits of the oral appliance of the present invention, i.e., to enable reduced pressure levels for the pressure support therapy, are applicable not only to patients suffering from OSA, hypopnea, UARS, and other conditions associated with upper airway instability, but also to any patient receiving a pressure support therapy for any reason.
These and other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended define the limits of the invention. Nor is the size or scale of any elements shown in the drawings intended to reflect actual size, scale or proportion. In addition, the method of the invention includes any description herein of how the described apparatus functions or is used, irrespective of whether such description is specifically identified as method disclosure.
As shown in
In another embodiment of the present invention, dentition receiving tray 20 and 22 do not mold to match the patient's teeth. Instead, the trays, or a portion thereof, correspond, in general, to the shape of a human teeth pattern and function as a bite block. The present invention also contemplates that the body member contacts the sides of the teeth or that the body member engages or contacts the patient's gum tissue or other anatomical features. This latter configuration is especially relevant for patients who may be missing some or all of their teeth.
Of importance in the present invention is not the specific manner in which body member 12 engages or contacts the teeth or other intraoral features, but that the body member sufficiently engages or contacts the teeth or other intraoral features so as to perform the functions described herein. For example, in a further embodiment described below with respect to
Referring again to
In the illustrated embodiment, body 12 also includes at least one port or passage 28 defined therein with an opening 30 to permit a flow of breathing gas from a source 32 of breathing gas (
Appliance 10 further includes a tongue retaining sleeve housing 34, which in the embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
Tongue retaining sleeve 40 is maintained in position relative to body 12 by a connecting assembly, generally indicated at 56. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, connecting assembly 56 is used to apply an outward pulling or tension force to tongue receiving sleeve 40, thus, drawing out and retaining tongue 44 in a position advanced forwardly from a normal position of the tongue relative to the upper dentition. Details of connecting assembly 56, as used to connect tongue receiving sleeve 40 to body 12 in a manner so as to control the position of the tongue relative to the upper dentition are discussed below.
The material of tongue receiving sleeve 40 has structural properties that enable it to readily collapse about the user's tongue with application of even a very slight vacuum within interior 46. That is, tongue receiving sleeve 40 has no structural properties that tend to resist its deformation and collapse under application of an internal vacuum. A suitable material for the walls of sleeve 40 is an EVA material, polyurethane, or silicon, for example, of suitable flexibility and section thickness that it will readily collapse and seal about the user's tongue when a partial vacuum is applied within interior 46.
Preferably, tongue receiving sleeve 40 is shaped to conform to the structures of the user's oral cavity. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, sleeve 40 includes a cutout 58 on a lower wall 60 for receiving the user's frenulum, which is the web-like tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the oral cavity, when tongue receiving sleeve 40 is positioned on the user's tongue. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the thickness of the walls of tongue receiving sleeve 40 varies over the length thereof, with the thinnest material being disposed at a posterior portion 62, to maximize the flexibility of the sleeve at its posterior portion, so that it too collapses about and seals against the user's tongue in response to even the slightest pressure differential between the vacuum applied within interior 36 and the pressure within the user's oral cavity.
Tongue receiving sleeve 40 includes a base element 64 at anterior portion 50 to provide a framework for supporting the flexible walls of the sleeve and for providing an interconnection between the interior of the sleeve and the vacuum source. Base element 64 preferably has a suitable degree of porosity to permit dispersion of the forces evolved as a result of the vacuum applied within the interior 46 of sleeve 40 as above described. Such porous materials are commercially available, one source being Porex Technologies of Fairbum, Ga. The porosity, as well as the described collapsing character of the walls of tongue retaining sleeve 40 when a vacuum is applied therein, contribute to increased user comfort and compliance by reducing localized stress concentrations on the tongue tissue.
As noted above, connecting assembly 56 is used to apply an outward pulling or tension force to tongue receiving sleeve 40, thus, drawing out and retaining tongue 44 in a position advanced forwardly from a normal position of the tongue relative to the upper dentition. The present invention contemplates accomplishing this function using a variety of techniques. An exemplary embodiment of one such technique is illustrated in FIG. 4.
According to this embodiment, a number of locking elements 66 are provided on the flexible conduit 54, and body 12 includes a locking aperture 68 at closed outer end 36. Each locking element 66 is independently cooperable with locking aperture 68 on body 12 for locking flexible conduit 54 in one of the plurality of discrete relative positions. Accordingly, the locking aperture is to be suitably formed to prevent pinching or constricting of flexible conduit 54 when locked. A similar locking element and locking aperture slot retention/adjustment structure is known for cable ties or hang tag retainers, such as used in retail merchandising. Locking elements 66 thus will lock into locking aperture 68, but may pass therethrough upon application of a sufficient force to permit selective adjustment of tongue retaining sleeve 40 by selecting the locking element to be locked into the locking aperture. This adjustment apparatus provides a plurality of discrete relative adjustment positions.
Although
The combination of jaw and tongue positioning provides two modes of airway stabilization which, combined with positive airway pressure, is believed to afford a particularly suitable combination of interventions for the prevention of airway obstruction in many patients while offering a high degree of patient compliance. In particular, it appears that positioning the mandible with the upper and lower teeth in an “edge-to-edge” orientation often provides at least a mildly effective upper airway stabilization effect with minimal possibility of temporomandibular joint pain or dysfunction.
In the invention described thus far, the user's mandible structure (lower dentition) and tongue are positioned and retained forwardly of their relaxed or neutral positions. If only tongue positioning is required, the apparatus of
In the embodiment shown in
Intraoral appliance 70 in
As will be recalled, the invention contemplates application of positive pressure in the user's upper airway, and therefore also in the user's oral cavity, as part of a treatment for OSA, hypopnea, and UARS. The pressure differential between a partial vacuum applied in interior 46 of tongue receiving sleeve 40, and the positive pressure applied within the user's oral cavity, will form a seal very precisely about the user's tongue. Because this seal is nearly completely devoid of self-supporting structural properties, the pressure forces molding it to the exterior form of the user's tongue will be experienced by the user as uniform pressure, rather than as a force or pressure concentrated at particular locations on the tongue. Avoidance of non-uniform force or pressure concentrations reduces the potential for discomfort or painful irritation of the tongue.
As has been noted, the invention contemplates the selective positioning of various anatomic features associated with the upper airway, including intraoral and pharyngeal features, in a manner to alleviate the incidence of airway obstruction associated with OSA, hypopnea, UARS and other conditions. Accordingly, a third embodiment of the invention shown in
Soft palate engaging element 80 includes a perimeter portion 82 and a slightly hollowed or dished portion 84 within the confines of perimeter 82. An aperture or opening 86, or a porous base element (not shown) similar to that provided for the
Like the vacuum-activated, collapsing seal elements described above, soft palate engaging element 80 is formed of a material and has structural qualities such that the application of a vacuum within the confines of perimeter 82 fixes the soft palate engaging element with respect to an intraoral anatomic surface, thereby engaging perimeter 82 essentially without developing any localized force or pressure concentrations that could produce the discomfort of soft palate tissue irritation. Soft palate engaging element 80, thus, is employed by suction attachment to soft palate tissue generally at location 90, as shown in
In the embodiments described above, and, more specifically, in the embodiment described above with respect to
Intraoral apparatus 92 includes an upper body member 94 and a lower body member 96, each having a respective one of an upper dentition tray 98 and a lower dentition tray 100. Upper and lower body members 94 and 96 are moveable relative to one another to control the position of the user's lower dentition relative to their upper dentition. A connecting assembly, generally indicated at 102, couples the upper and lower body members and provides selective adjustment of a relative positional relationship between the upper body member and the lower body member. In the illustrated embodiment, connecting assembly 102 is a rotary screw system that provides a continuous range of positions for the lower body member relative to the upper body member or vice versa.
Projecting members 104 and 106 provided on upper body member 94 and lower body member 96, respectively, extend in an anterior direction to terminate in respective overlapping tabs 108 and 110. Respective bores 112 and 114 defined in tabs 108 and 110 are coaxially aligned to receive a threaded adjuster rod 116. Rod 116 is received within bore 114 and bushings 118 are affixed to adjuster rod 116 snugly on either side of tab 110 to thereby permit rod 116 to rotate freely within bore 114 while being axially retained with respect to tab 110.
Threads formed on adjuster rod 116 mate with corresponding threads formed within bore 112 so that upper body member 94 moves axially with respect to lower body member 96 upon rotation of adjuster rod 116. Accordingly, by selective axial rotation of adjuster rod 116, upper and lower body members 94 and 96 are selectively movable with respect to each other. Lower dentition tray 100 thus is adjustable in an anterior or posterior direction with respect to upper tray portion 98, thereby permitting selective adjustment of the user's mandible in the anterior and posterior directions, i.e. along axis x—x of FIG. 10. Moreover, this adjustment can be made manually or via a motor coupled to adjuster rod 116, and this adjustment can be made while the apparatus is being worn by the patient.
The mandibular adjustment apparatus of
In another aspect of the mandibular adjustment device shown in
Although a rotary screw configuration is shown in
Yet another embodiment of a mandibular adjustment apparatus 125 is shown in
Mandibular adjustment apparatus 125 includes an upper body member 127 and a lower body member 128 adapted to receive the user's upper and lower dentitions, respectively. The present invention contemplates that upper and lower body members 127 and 128 are similar in material and construction to the corresponding elements 20 and 22 in
Connection 134 may be, for example, a snap-fit button connection to allow pivotal movement of spring end 138 with respect to the associated body member. In addition to pivotal movement, connection 134 preferably provides sufficient freedom to accommodate differential vertical movement between opposed sides of the apparatus of
Spring 132 may be molded by any suitable molding process to have any of a variety of cross sectional forms, for example, a pair of flat, intersecting web elements 140, 142 forming the unitary spring 106 as shown in FIG. 14. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, spring 132 tapers in cross sectional size from the larger cross section portion 144 thereof to a smaller cross section portion 146, as shown in FIG. 11. This tapered form allows the spring to exert sufficient bias for its intended purpose, as described hereinbelow, in a horizontal direction, while exerting substantially less bias to resist relative vertical movement. This permits the apparatus to be used for biasing the mandible or jaw, engaged by lower body member 128, outward or toward the right in
Ratchet adjustment assembly 136 permits adjustment of upper body member 127 with respect to lower body member 128 to a plurality of discrete relative positions in the anterior-posterior direction for the same purposes as described hereinabove with reference to other embodiments, such as FIG. 10. However, for the embodiment of
Ratchet adjustment assembly 136 includes a ratchet rack 148 carried by upper body member 127 and a ratchet engaging cog assembly 150 for adjustably engaging rack 148. Referring to
Ratchet engaging cog assembly 150 is fixed, preferably integrally, to the end of spring 132 opposite connection 134, as shown in FIG. 11. Referring to
A ratchet tooth engaging cog element 164 is fixed within channel 162 and includes a ratchet tooth engaging end 166 that projects upwardly into interfering relation with ratchet teeth 156. Cog element 164 may be of spring steel, for example, or plastic, or any suitable material having the property of flexibility and spring biasing so that it will override individual ratchet teeth 156 as body member 160 is moved along ratchet rack 148 in the forward or anterior direction, but will spring upward upon passing each ratchet tooth 156 to thereby preclude sliding movement of body member 160 in the opposite direction. Of course, in order to operate as described, the face angles of ratchet teeth 156 must be properly formed. In the embodiment shown, ratchet teeth 156 preferably have a generally vertical face 167 against which the engaging end 166 of cog element 164 abuts, and a confronting face 168 that sets at an acute angle to the vertical to provide clearance for the upwardly projecting engaging end 166 of cog 164. See FIG. 12.
As shown in
The apparatus of
The apparatus of
The invention as described hereinabove includes an apparatus for positioning various anatomic features associated with the upper airway, in conjunction with the application of positive airway pressure. Specifically, it has been long recognized that positive airway pressure may be employed to splint the upper airway and thereby prevent airway collapse which results in airway obstruction. The present invention contemplates the positioning of one or more anatomic features associated with the upper airway, or the same in combination with application of positive airway pressure, to alleviate airway obstruction. In one embodiment, the described apparatus is employed to position the user's mandible in a forwardly protruding position with respect to its neutral position. Such positioning of the mandible tends to draw forward adjacent intraoral tissue, including tissue adjacent to the upper airway and other pharyngeal and peri-pharyngeal tissue and structures. By thus positioning such tissue, it is possible to stabilize portions of the upper airway which, if left in an unstabilized state, could contribute to the occurrence of airway obstruction. The additional airway stabilization may accord such benefits as the ability to completely control airway collapse with a reduced magnitude of positive airway pressure.
The method of the invention further contemplates maintaining the tongue in a position displaced in the anterior direction from its usual rest or neutral position, alone or in combination with positive airway pressure. This is another mode of stabilization for tissue in or adjacent to the upper airway that can beneficially reduce the incidence of airway collapse due to airway instability. The use of such tongue positioning in conjunction with positive airway pressure thus affords the prospect for beneficial treatment similar to that available through the combination of jaw or mandible positioning and positive airway pressure. As such, the invention also contemplates combining tongue and mandible positioning with positive airway pressure to alleviate airway obstruction.
Similarly, the method of the invention also contemplates soft palate tissue positioning, such as by use of the soft palate engaging element 80. Drawing the soft palate tissue in an anterior direction can help stabilize the upper airway, thereby reducing the incidence of airway obstruction. The described soft palate positioning and/or tensioning also may be employed in combination with positive airway pressure.
Still further, the method elements of mandible positioning, tongue positioning and soft palate positioning may be employed in any combination, with or without positive airway pressure, to provide airway stabilization.
Once the optimal positions of the respective intraoral, pharyngeal, or other upper airway anatomic features have been determined for the specific patient, the apparatus configurations that result in the optimal positions are recorded. For example, suitably numbered index marks (not shown) provided on adjacent, relatively movable portions of the apparatus of
In the embodiments discussed above, the position of the tongue (FIGS. 1-5), soft palate, (FIGS. 7-8), and mandible (FIG. 10), or any combination thereof, is controllable a motor rotating an actuating rod, such as threaded protruding element 76 in FIG. 5 and adjuster rod 116 in FIG. 10. The present invention further contemplates that the operation of the motor can be controlled either manually or automatically to achieve a desired anatomical position. For example,
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, controller 182 controls the position of the patient's anatomical features according to a prescribed or preset positioning algorithm. For example, the tongue, soft palate, mandible or any combination of these features can be maintained in a natural or neutral position when the user first dons the intraoral appliance. Thereafter, the position of the anatomical feature can be changed over time to a position that better stabilizes the upper airway. This feature of present invention allows the patient time to fall asleep with his or her anatomical features in a neutral position. After a set or selectable period of time, controller 182 automatically varies the position of the anatomical feature associated with the upper airway, such as the tongue, soft palate, mandible, or other pharyngeal and peri-pharyngeal features, to the treatment desired position. This can be done gradually over time or after a fixed time period has elapsed; preferably a time period sufficient to allow the patient time to fall asleep.
The present invention also contemplates controlling or changing the position of the anatomical feature associated with the upper airway based on a monitored parameter. To this end, a sensor 184 is provided for communicating a signal indicative of the monitored parameter to controller 182. For example, the present invention contemplates that sensor 184 is a microphone and that controller 182 detects whether the patient is snoring based on the signal provided by the microphone. Upon detecting the presence of snore, controller 182 actuates motor 180 to advance the tongue outward in a direction outward from the mouth a predetermined amount. This process can continue until the maximum distended position is reached or the snore stops. If snore is not detected for a predetermined period of time, controller 182 actuates motor 180 to move the tongue in a direction toward its normal or neutral position.
It is to be understood that a variety of parameters can be monitored and used to control the position of the anatomical features of the patient to achieve the desired treatment. For example, the patient's respiration can be monitored via a flow sensor or respiratory belt as sensor 184, and the patient's anatomical features can be adjusted, if, for example, an apnea or hypopnea is detected, to alleviate or mitigate the occurrence of this disorder.
The present invention also contemplates controlling the position of the anatomical features based on the patient's ventilation rather than based on time. For example, the position of the anatomical feature can be gradually adjusted during each successive breath, or after a fixed number of breaths have been detected. That is, the position of the anatomical features can be incrementally moved every breath, or every 3rd breath and so on, for example, until the desired therapy position is reached. This achieves nearly the same function as the timed change in position, but does so in rhythm with the activities of the patient, rather than based on a clock or other timing mechanism.
In this embodiment, sleeve 206 is secured in cavity 204 and a vacuum or partial vacuum is supplied to the cavity. A vacuum port 208 is provided at one end of body member 202 for communicating the vacuum source to cavity 204. Body member 202 is made from a material having sufficient rigidity so that it does not collapse when a vacuum is applied in cavity 204. Sleeve 206, on the other hand, is made from the same or similar material as sleeve 40 described above, so that sleeve 206 readily collapses about the patient's tongue when a vacuum is applied to an interior 210 of the sleeve. One or more holes 212 are defined in a first end portion 214 of sleeve 206 to communicate interior 210 of sleeve 206 with cavity 204, and, hence, with the vacuum source.
Sleeve 206 inserts into cavity 204, as indicated by arrow 216 in
The purpose of sleeve 206 is to maintain a secure engagement with the patient's tongue by supplying a vacuum to interior 210 of the sleeve while maintaining a comfortable shape for the tongue. During use, the patient's tongue expands or contours to fit the shape of the sleeve as a result of the vacuum in interior 210 where the tongue is located. However, the tongue is prevented from excessive expansion by the sleeve itself. Thus, the tongue is comfortably held in place in cavity 204. The use of multiple holes or a gas permeable material in end portion of sleeve 206 allows the forces resulting from the vacuum within sleeve 206 to be widely distributed over the patient's tongue.
The present invention contemplates a variety of techniques for securing body member 202 to the patient. For example, one or more dentition trays, such as those discussed above with respect to
Face engaging member 228 preferably includes at least one hole 232 defined therethrough to allow air or other breathing gas to be delivered to the patient via the mouth. Of course, these hole can be eliminated if mouth breathing is not required.
Face engaging assembly can optionally include headgear straps 234 for securing the assembly to the patient's head. Straps 234 are secured to face engaging member 228 in any conventional manner, such as by providing slots in face engaging member 228.
In addition, the distance between face engaging member 228 and body member is preferably adjustable to allow the patient to tailor the assembly to meet their particular needs. That is, face engaging member 228 is preferably adjustable in the directions indicated by arrows 236 relative to body member 202. In the illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished by providing a plurality of barbs 238 on stem 230. The opening in face engaging member 228 through which stem 230 is inserted engages one of the barbs for maintaining the face engaging member 228 in one of several selectable positions. Other techniques, such as a frictional engagement between stem 230 and face engaging member 228 member are contemplated for allowing these to components to be connected, yet moveable relative to one another. A lip is provided as the end of stem 230 to prevent disengagement of face engaging member 228 from body member 202.
As with the previous embodiments, the present invention contemplates providing a pressure support therapy in conjunction with the use of the oral appliance illustrated in
Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In particular, any adjustment mechanism described herein may be employed with any described anatomic feature engaging apparatus, and all such combinations can provide essentially the same modes of freedom. The invention thus is intended to cover all modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims (18)
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Also Published As
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US20050081859A1 (en) | 2005-04-21 |
US7328698B2 (en) | 2008-02-12 |
WO2001052928A1 (en) | 2001-07-26 |
US20010047805A1 (en) | 2001-12-06 |
WO2001052928A9 (en) | 2002-10-31 |
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